RIYADH: A decade before it hosts football’s World Cup, the size of the task facing Saudi Arabia is becoming apparent, includingbuilding stadiums, hotels and transport links.

As the only bidder, Saudi Arabia was anointed host of the 2034 World Cup last October by FIFA.

Infrastructure is the initial concern for the oil-rich kingdom, which is snapping up high-profile sports events in an attempt to sweep away its conservative image and entice foreign investment.

Despite its oil riches, the world’s biggest crude exporter has much on its plate. It has committed to several other giant projects — including NEOM, a $500 billion, futuristic new city — as part of de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ambitious Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

To host the 48-team World Cup, the country needs 14 all-seater stadiums capable of holding at least 40,000 people, according to the bid document.

It currently has two: Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium and Riyadh’s venerable King Fahd International Stadium, which is undergoing a major refit.

Saudi Arabia has a well-established and popular football league but among its 30-plus stadiums, many are old, small and have pitches surrounded by athletics tracks, a design that has long gone out of vogue.

“We still have 10 full years ahead of us that will see the state of stadiums in Saudi Arabia change radically,” a Saudi Football Federation official told AFP.

“It is a huge challenge, but we will overcome it,” the official said on condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to media.

By the time the World Cup kicks off, the desert country of 32 million will have hosted the 2027 Asian Cup and even the 2029 Asian Winter Games, a decision that was panned by environmentalists.

In 2034, the same year as the World Cup, Riyadh will host the Asian Games — a two-week tournament with more events than the Summer Olympics and a similar number of athletes.

Saudi Arabia, where alcohol is banned, became the sole bidders for 2034 a year after gas-wealthy neighbour Qatar hosted the Middle East’s first World Cup at an eye-watering cost of $220 billion, including related infrastructure.

The Saudis, frequently accused of “sportswashing”, can expect the same criticism over women’s rights, laws against homosexuality and migrant labour that was faced by Qatari organisers.

As the 2027 Asian Cup looms, work has started not just on the King Fahd International Stadium refit but also on a new clifftop venue in Qiddiya, a mega-project outside the capital, and another stadium in the eastern city of Dammam.

All of them are scheduled to open in 2026.

Authorities are planning another in Diriyah, former base of the Al Saud royal dynasty, with its design already approved, according to a Saudi official.

The sports ministry is preparing to issue tenders worth 10 billion riyals ($2.69 billion) to build and expand football venues, according to domestic media.

World Cup games are planned for Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam and Abha along with Qiddiya and NEOM, both cornerstones of Prince Mohammed’s Vision 2030 and under construction.

Saudi is going to need more than just stadiums, said architect Hussein Mahran.

“Factors such as accommodation and public transportation inside cities and between cities still need development,” he told AFP in Riyadh last month, at a conference on stadium design and engineering.

“But it is clear that the kingdom is moving strongly on this path,” he added.

Summer in a country where temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) daily can make any outdoor activity hazardous, risking dehydration, heat stroke and heart failure.

However, Yasser Al Misehal, president of the Saudi Arabian Football Federation, last year told AFP that he is open to a summer or winter World Cup.

Radwan Darwish of Saudi’s GreenAire cooling company said his firm has applied for contracts to cool three existing stadiums used for the Saudi Pro League, which has started a campaign to attract top international players and has already lured stars including Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar.

“Trying to transfer Europe’s success in the world of football to the kingdom is difficult, realistically without adapting all the stadiums,” Darwish told AFP, given the intense heat.

One of the biggest tasks is upgrading the Saudi workforce to run a successful World Cup.

Stadiums need event managers, security, ticketing staff, cleaners and food and beverage teams.

Lee Collier of the STRI consultancy group called it a “significant challenge” to “upskill and create a sufficient number of people to be able to manage these venues”.

While Saudi has the petro-dollars to import such expertise, it also has a mission to develop Saudi talent, Collier said.

“The journey is not easy at all,” said Sophocles Sophocleous, who represents a hybrid grass firm. “But what grants hope is the commitment at the very top in helping Saudi Arabia achieve this goal — and the financial capital, of course.”

AMMAN: Pakistan are slowly coming to grips with the level of football in the second round of 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying and after their best result so far in Group ‘G’, Stephen Constantine’s men would be looking to do even better when they face Jordan on Thursday.

Jordan won the reverse fixture in Islamabad 3-0 on Tuesday and welcome Pakistan to the Amman International Stadium for their first international match since their historic run to the AFC Asian Cup final last month.

The Jordanian side had an audience with King Abdullah II on Monday in a celebration of their first-ever appearance in the final of Asia’s blue-riband tournament, where they lost to Qatar.

And playing in front of their home fans for the first time since the Asian Cup, Hussein Ammouta’s men would be looking to complete the double against Pakistan, who are rock-bottom in the group.

Pakistan, competing for the first time in the second round of qualifying, have lost all three of their matches so far, having opened with a 4-0 defeat in Saudi Arabia before being thrashed 6-1 at home by Tajikistan.

But in the game against Jordan, they showed they’re coming to terms with the standard at this level and Constantine was hopeful his charges would continue to improve.

“This is going to be our sixth game since I arrived, and every game we are a little bit better,” he told reporters on Monday. “The players have given absolutely everything in the seven months I’ve been with the team.”

Pakistan were undone by two early goals in their home fixture, with Jordan grabbing a third late on. But they defended bravely and created some chances of their own to raise hopes of better days ahead as the team continues to gel during every international window.

Pakistan, however, have a defensive conundrum with centre-back Abdullah Iqbal suspended for the game due to accumulation of yellow cards.

While Pakistan are using these matches against the Asian elite as preparation for the third-round of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup, Jordan have higher aims as they are looking to finish among the top two teams in Group ‘G’ and advance to the next round of qualifying for the 48-team World Cup in United States, Canada in Mexico.

Having picked up just a point from their opening two qualifier, Jordan kick-started their campaign with victory against Pakistan last week. Tougher tests lie ahead in the form of Tajikistan and Saudi Arabia, and Jordan can’t affort to slip-up against Pakistan.

Jordan can claim second spot at the conclusion of this round of matches with a victory if Tajikistan suffer defeat against Saudi Arabia in the other group game.

“We’re looking to continue our ascent as a national team and play like we did at the Asian Cup,” Ammouta told reporters on Monday.

Ammouta will also have his eyes on the goals column against Pakistan as his side looks to improve its goal difference.

“We respect our rivals,” he said. “We are striving to achieve victory and score as many goals as possible.”

In the group’s other fixture, Saudi Arabia, who have won all three games so far, can secure their spot in the next stage if they can complete back-to-back wins over Tajikistan following their win at Riyadh last week.

“We know that Tajikistan is a strong team and has been improving,” Saudi Arabia coach Roberto Mancini said. “It will be a tough game for us but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

Fast bowler Mohammad Amir on Sunday said that he reconsidered his decision regarding international retirement after “few positive” discussions with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and announced his availability for the ICC T20 World Cup starting in June.

In 2020, the veteran pacer had announced his retirement and said that he was being “mentally tortured” by the PCB management.

The cricketer was referring to the infamous scandal in 2010 when he was implicated in allegations of spot-fixing for bowling two deliberate no-balls in return for payment as part of a betting scam in the Lord’s Test against England.

He was subsequently questioned by Scotland Yard along with teammates Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt and pleaded guilty. He was convicted in November 2011 and banned from playing for five years.

He had said that the current environment at the PCB and the way he was sidelined from the 35-member squad for the New Zealand tour was a “wake-up call” for him.

Earlier, while speaking to the press in Lahore, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that the board — while pointing to Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz — will decide regarding the pacer’s future.

In a post on X, Amir said that the board respectfully told him that his services were needed and he could still play for the side.

“After discussing with family and well-wishers, I declare that I am available to be considered for the upcoming t20WC [ICC T20 World Cup],” he said.

“I want [to] do this for my country as it comes before my personal decisions,” he added.

“Donning the green jersey and serving my country has always been, and will continue to be my greatest aspirations,” he said.

The Twenty20 World Cup will be held in the United States and the West Indies in June.

Amir has represented Pakistan in 36 Tests, 61 ODIs and 50 T20Is.

His announcement came a day after all-rounder Imad Wasim reversed his own decision to retire four months ago and made himself available to play in this year’s World Cup.

Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday announced a “reorganised” men’s national selection committee comprising seven members with equal powers.

Addressing a press conference at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Naqvi said that the selection committee had been “reorganised” and would now comprise of seven members.

He said that the committee would no longer have a chairman and all seven members would have equal powers. “They will take decisions on a majority basis […] so that we can go towards a better conclusion,” he said.

Naqvi was joined at the press conference by Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Yousuf, Asad Shafique and Abdul Razzaq, all of whom the PCB chief said were part of the new committee.

Naqvi said that the captain of the Pakistan team as well as the head coach would also be members of the selection committee alongside a “data person”.

“So this selection committee will take all future decisions […] I told them yesterday as well that the [PCB] chairman will not have any input in selecting the team. We are management people [and] we have to manage things. They are the professionals […] and I am hopeful they will give us a good result,” he said.

Naqvi said work was under way finalise coaches for the team. “We will come to you and tell you the day it is finalised,” he said.

However, he refrained from giving any premature information in this regard. Giving an example, the PCB chief said that the board was in talks with one coach, which was played up in the media to such an extent that “he got so worried that he ran away”.

He called on the people to wait for “four to five days”, asserting that the PCB would bring in a “dream team” with regard to coaching staff.

Earlier in the day, a spokesperson for the PCB had said that the men’s national selection committee had been dissolved. The spokesperson had said a new committee would be selected soon, adding that it would take decisions based on merit and performance.

“The new selection committee’s decisions on merit will be in front of everyone to see,” the spokesperson had added.

During his press conference, the PCB chief was also asked about Imad Wasim taking back his retirement from international cricket and saying he was available for the upcoming T20 World Cup

Naqvi said that for the upcoming T20 World Cup, the team needed to be at full strength, which was why Imad was called back.

He also talked about pace ace Haris Rauf, saying that his contract had been restored. Haris’ contract was terminated by the PCB in February following a probe into his alleged refusal to join Pakistan’s Test squad for the tour of Australia 2023-24.

Naqvi also asserted that the PCB’s funds would be spent on improving the team and ensuring the “betterment of cricket”. “

Responding to a question, Naqvi said that he was hopeful that more teams would be added to the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and that a women’s cricket league would come to fruition.

He noted that previous chairmen had promised a women’s league. “Give me a few months and you will see the results,” Naqvi said.

The previous national selection committee was headed by Riaz and also included Tauseef Ahmed, Wajahatullah Wasti and Wasim Haider. Kamran Akmal and Rao Iftikhar Anjum were consultant members while Hassan Muzaffar Cheema was the manager analytics and team strategy.

Last week, Naqvi had hinted at changes to the selection committee during a press conference at the PSL final.

“I might be making some changes in that committee, but I believe that the selection committee should be empowered enough to be able to take these important decisions,” the chairman said.

It should be mentioned that Naqvi had met with Riaz at the Board’s headquarters in Lahore on Friday. During the meeting, which took place to select squads for the upcoming series against New Zealand, Riaz presented detailed reports on player performance from the recently-concluded ninth edition of PSL.

According to a PCB press release, Naqvi, also the nation’s interior minister, wished to assemble a pool of players “based on merit and performance,” including top performers from the domestic cricket extravaganza.

The ninth edition of the T20 World Cup runs from June 1-29. The expanded 20-team tournament is being jointly held by the United States and the West Indies and will get under way on June 1 at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas, Texas, when the US take on Canada, both teams making their first appearances at a T20 World Cup.

A new venue 30 miles east of downtown Manhattan will host the big clash between India and Pakistan on Sunday, June 9 — one of eight games to be held at the 34,000-seat modular stadium being built in Nassau County.

A total of 16 games will be held in the United States — the first time that a major international cricket tournament is held in the country.

Lauderhill in South Florida, the most established cricket venue in the US, will host games featuring India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Pakistan’s build-up to the T20 World Cup commences with yet another series against New Zealand, this time at home, as they face the Kiwis for five T20I matches in Rawalpindi and Lahore from April 18.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Saturday announced that former PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan, who served in the role for two terms passed away early in the morning in Lahore. He was 89.

According to a press release issued by the board today, PCB expressed deep sadness and sorrow over the death of the former chairman.

He served as chairman of the board from December 2003 to October 2006 and from August 2014 to August 2017, the statement.

“Shaharyar Khan also worked as team manager of the Pakistan National Men’s team during the 1999 tour of India and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003,” the press release said.

It added that the board pays “heartfelt condolences to Shaharyar Khan’s family on his sad demise”, wishing to always remember him as one of the vital characters in bringing cricket back to Pakistan during the last decade.

According to the press release, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said: “On behalf of the PCB, I express my deep condolences and grief over the passing of former Chairman Shaharyar Khan. He was a fine administrator and served Pakistan Cricket with utmost dedication.”

“Pakistan Cricket will stay indebted to the late Shaharyar Khan for his commendable role as head of the board and for his services in the growth and development of the game in the country,” the press release quoted him as saying.

Islamabad United have been crowned the champions of Pakistan Super League (PSL) season 9, beating Multan Sultans by 2 wickets in the National Bank Stadium, Karachi on Monday.

Shadab Khan-led Islamabad, who won their third PSL title, adding to their title wins in 2016 and 2018, are now the most successful team in the event's history.

Muhammad Rizwan-led, Multan Sultans, after this loss, have lost three consecutive PSL finals. In 2022 and 2023 finals, Multan were beaten by Lahore Qalanders.

Islamabad United chased down the 160 run target on the last ball of their innings.  

The match was decided on the last ball when Hunain Shah entered to bat with one run required for the win. With a great strategy, the youthful player took advantage of the gap at point and hit the ball for a four.

Islamabad lost three wickets in the powerplay and were 55-3 after which their most experienced batter Martin Guptill and Azam Khan stitched an important 47-run partnership that helped them retain the driving position.

However, Guptill was run out after making 50 runs on 32 balls in the 12.5 overs due to a small misunderstanding with Azam and as a result, their team was 102-4.

Then as Azam looked back at the pavilion, Imad Wasim, the hero of the eliminators, and Naseem Shah stepped down the order to contribute with their valuable contributions, scoring 19 and 17 runs respectively.

In the Sultans’ first innings, Mohammad Rizwan was bowled by Naseem Shah but he got another chance as the bowler was disqualified for going outside the crease.

Except for Sultans, who didn’t get much space to play on as Imad Wasim removed the in-form Yasir Khan and David Willey in the second over.

The wickets continued to fall with the dismissal of Rizwan but Usman remained on the field and was relentless in his attack on Islamabad's bowlers. The UAE international was out shortly after celebrating his half-century. Shadab Khan took him out for just 57 runs on 40 balls.

It seemed like the Sultans would not reach the 130-run target as they had lost nine wickets for the score of 127 in 18 overs but Iftikhar survived till the end and helped Rizwan’s team to post a competitive score.

Iftikhar showed his skills in the last overs when he completed his short cameo scoring 32 runs with the aid of 4 fours and as many sixes in 20 balls, when he was 33.

For Imad, the Islamabad player, his five-wicket haul was a first-time achievement in the PSL final.